Greek Mythology and Christianity
Greek Mythology and Christianity are looked at as two completely different beliefs but they actually are very similar. Greek Mythology, " is the body of myths and teachings that belonged to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices". The ancient Greeks strongly believed in multiple gods and goddesses and that they each had a specific role. For example Poseidon was believed to be the god of the sea and is pictured with a trident.
Christianity on the other hand is a more accepted religion. It revolves around one central God and the Bible is used to tell and hold the stories of God and his followers. These stories may not all be true but, like Greek Myths, they are used to prove a point or moral.
Zeus vs. God
In Greek Mythology Zeus is pictured as the ruler of the gods; the highest and most powerful ruler. Zeus can be easily compared to God in the Christian faith. Both Zeus and God reined over the world and everything in it. These two rulers, since they were so powerful, were both feared and loved by their people. They had the power to punish people for unlawful deeds and they did so. Zeus used the power of his lightning bolt and God could execute his punishment down upon man in any form, through plagues and or floods; they could make unnatural events occur. Characteristics though are not the only thing tying these two worshiped leaders. Greek Myth stories of Zeus and biblical stories involving God are also very similar.
Stories- Zeus vs. God
There are many Greek myths just like there are many biblical stories. Both of these include stories like of the son of God and the son of Zeus and the creation stories.
Creation Story
Greek Myth:
In the beginning there was only chaos but then Erbes, the unknowable place where death dwells, appeared along with Night. Then Love was born bringing order to the chaos. From Love came Light and Day. Once there was Light and Day earth, Gaea, appeared. Then Erbes slept with Night who gave birth to Ether, the heavenly light, and to Day the earthly light. Night then alone produced Doom, Fate, Death, Sleep, Dreams and others that came to man out of darkness. Gaea then alone produced Uranus, the heavens. Uranus became Gaea's mate and together they produced three Cyclopes, the three Hectaoncheires, and twelve Titans.
Biblical Story:
"In the beginning when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate."
Day 1: God commanded, "Let there be light- and light appeared". He was pleased and separated the light from the dark. He named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night". Evening passes and morning came-that was the first day.
Day 2: Then God commanded, "Let there be a dome to divide the water and keep it in two separate places"- and it was done. So God made a dome and it separated the water under it from the water above it. He named it the "Sky". Evening passed and morning came- that was the second day
Day 3: God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"- and it was done. He names the land "Earth", and the water the "Sea". God was pleased with what he saw. Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit"- and it was done. Evening passed and morning came- that was the third day.
Day 4: Then God commanded, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin; they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth"- and it was done. He placed the lights in the sky to shine on the earth, to rule over the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. God was pleased. Evening passed and morning came- that was the fourth day.
Day 5: God commanded, " Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds." So God created the great sea monsters, all kinds of creatures that live in the water, and all kinds of birds. God was pleased and blessed them all telling them to reproduce. Evening passed and morning came-that was the fifth day.
Day 6: Then God commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small"-and it was done. So God made them all, and he was pleased. Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild large and small." So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals."- It was done and God was pleased. Evening passed and morning came-that was the sixth day.
Day 7: God took this day as a day of rest from his work of creation. He took this day to look over what he had done and admire it. This day he called the Sabbath Day.
Greek Mythology and Christianity are looked at as two completely different beliefs but they actually are very similar. Greek Mythology, " is the body of myths and teachings that belonged to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices". The ancient Greeks strongly believed in multiple gods and goddesses and that they each had a specific role. For example Poseidon was believed to be the god of the sea and is pictured with a trident.
Christianity on the other hand is a more accepted religion. It revolves around one central God and the Bible is used to tell and hold the stories of God and his followers. These stories may not all be true but, like Greek Myths, they are used to prove a point or moral.
Zeus vs. God
In Greek Mythology Zeus is pictured as the ruler of the gods; the highest and most powerful ruler. Zeus can be easily compared to God in the Christian faith. Both Zeus and God reined over the world and everything in it. These two rulers, since they were so powerful, were both feared and loved by their people. They had the power to punish people for unlawful deeds and they did so. Zeus used the power of his lightning bolt and God could execute his punishment down upon man in any form, through plagues and or floods; they could make unnatural events occur. Characteristics though are not the only thing tying these two worshiped leaders. Greek Myth stories of Zeus and biblical stories involving God are also very similar.
Stories- Zeus vs. God
There are many Greek myths just like there are many biblical stories. Both of these include stories like of the son of God and the son of Zeus and the creation stories.
Creation Story
Greek Myth:
In the beginning there was only chaos but then Erbes, the unknowable place where death dwells, appeared along with Night. Then Love was born bringing order to the chaos. From Love came Light and Day. Once there was Light and Day earth, Gaea, appeared. Then Erbes slept with Night who gave birth to Ether, the heavenly light, and to Day the earthly light. Night then alone produced Doom, Fate, Death, Sleep, Dreams and others that came to man out of darkness. Gaea then alone produced Uranus, the heavens. Uranus became Gaea's mate and together they produced three Cyclopes, the three Hectaoncheires, and twelve Titans.
Biblical Story:
"In the beginning when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate."
Day 1: God commanded, "Let there be light- and light appeared". He was pleased and separated the light from the dark. He named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night". Evening passes and morning came-that was the first day.
Day 2: Then God commanded, "Let there be a dome to divide the water and keep it in two separate places"- and it was done. So God made a dome and it separated the water under it from the water above it. He named it the "Sky". Evening passed and morning came- that was the second day
Day 3: God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"- and it was done. He names the land "Earth", and the water the "Sea". God was pleased with what he saw. Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit"- and it was done. Evening passed and morning came- that was the third day.
Day 4: Then God commanded, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin; they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth"- and it was done. He placed the lights in the sky to shine on the earth, to rule over the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. God was pleased. Evening passed and morning came- that was the fourth day.
Day 5: God commanded, " Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds." So God created the great sea monsters, all kinds of creatures that live in the water, and all kinds of birds. God was pleased and blessed them all telling them to reproduce. Evening passed and morning came-that was the fifth day.
Day 6: Then God commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small"-and it was done. So God made them all, and he was pleased. Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild large and small." So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals."- It was done and God was pleased. Evening passed and morning came-that was the sixth day.
Day 7: God took this day as a day of rest from his work of creation. He took this day to look over what he had done and admire it. This day he called the Sabbath Day.
Jesus vs. Perseus
Zeus's son, Perseus, in many ways is similar to God's son, Jesus. God impregnated Mary, a virgin, with His son Jesus through his power and the Holy Spirit. Similarly Zeus impregnated Danae, who was locked in a tower, with his son Perseus by transforming himself into a shower of gold. After the birth of both Jesus and Perseus they alike had enemies and people who wanted to get rid of them out of fear of being overthrown. King Herod had heard of the prophecy that stated "a new King shall rise up" and feared his position and power. Out of fear he ordered the killing of all first born Jewish sons. Similarly when Acrisius discovered the birth of Perseus he became enraged for he feared the prophecy stating that one day his son will reign and rule over him. In hopes of preventing his destruction of authority and power he placed his wife and son in a wooden structure and cast it out to sea to get rid of them. Perseus though survived and grew up to defeat his father, the titans and Zeus' brother Hades. Jesus grew up and preached the word of The Lord to the people. Jesus later sacrificed himself to save his people, a deed only a God would do.
Differences:
Besides the obvious differences between Greek Mythology and the biblical history like specific people or events there is at least one major difference. Greek gods were very different than normal people and wanted power over them and to prove their power while God wanted his people to be like him- made in His image and follow in His footsteps.
Zeus's son, Perseus, in many ways is similar to God's son, Jesus. God impregnated Mary, a virgin, with His son Jesus through his power and the Holy Spirit. Similarly Zeus impregnated Danae, who was locked in a tower, with his son Perseus by transforming himself into a shower of gold. After the birth of both Jesus and Perseus they alike had enemies and people who wanted to get rid of them out of fear of being overthrown. King Herod had heard of the prophecy that stated "a new King shall rise up" and feared his position and power. Out of fear he ordered the killing of all first born Jewish sons. Similarly when Acrisius discovered the birth of Perseus he became enraged for he feared the prophecy stating that one day his son will reign and rule over him. In hopes of preventing his destruction of authority and power he placed his wife and son in a wooden structure and cast it out to sea to get rid of them. Perseus though survived and grew up to defeat his father, the titans and Zeus' brother Hades. Jesus grew up and preached the word of The Lord to the people. Jesus later sacrificed himself to save his people, a deed only a God would do.
Differences:
Besides the obvious differences between Greek Mythology and the biblical history like specific people or events there is at least one major difference. Greek gods were very different than normal people and wanted power over them and to prove their power while God wanted his people to be like him- made in His image and follow in His footsteps.